Drive or Fly: Bowie, MD to Riviera Beach, MD?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for BWI–BWI. At 23 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

41m

Distance

23.7 mi

Total Cost

$40

CO2

10 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$5

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

2h 40m

2m in the air

Air Distance

20 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

5 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bowie, MD → BWI 25m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BWI → Riviera Beach, MD 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Bowie, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 16 mi, ~25m drive

Riviera Beach, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BWI and BWI. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

1h 20m

15m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Commuter Rail

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bowie, MD → Bowie State 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 15m

Arrival 10m

Bwi Thurgood Marshall Airport Station → Riviera Beach, MD 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Bowie State 6 mi, ~10m drive

To Bwi Thurgood Marshall Airport Station 10 mi, ~15m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~35/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 35m

45m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0310

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bowie, MD → Hyattsville New Carrollton Bus Stop (NCC6) 11m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 45m

Arrival 10m

Baltimore Downtown Bus Station (BAL6) → Riviera Beach, MD 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From NCC6 — Hyattsville New Carrollton Bus Stop 8 mi, ~11m drive

To BAL6 — Baltimore Downtown Bus Station 10 mi, ~14m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	41m	2h 40m	1h 20m	1h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$40	$121	$3	$3
Carbon footprint	10 kg CO₂	5 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂	2 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

23.7 mi 41m

via MD 3; MD 450, US 301

Alternative (+1 min)

28.1 mi 42m

via US 50; US 301, MD 2

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Bowie, MD to Riviera Beach, MD with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.